Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has left the club by mutual consent just six games into the Premier League season, the club said on Thursday.

“Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho have agreed to part company today by mutual consent,” a statement posted on the club's website (www.chelseafc.com) said.

The confirmation followed media reports which had said senior players, including captain John Terry, had received text messages from their Portuguese manager informing them he was leaving.

Mourinho, who was contracted until 2010, was hired by Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich in 2004 with a brief to break Manchester United and Arsenal's domination of English soccer and make Chelsea the best club in Europe.

The former Porto boss made a stunning impact, winning the title in his first season, Chelsea's first since 1955, and charming the media with his sharp sense of humour.

Rumours began to surface last year that Abramovich was losing patience with Mourinho and was demanding a more attractive brand of soccer.

Israeli Avram Grant and Steve Clarke will take charge of the Chelsea first team from Thursday following Jose Mourinho's departure, the club said in a statement.  The website briefing did not say if the jobs were permanent.
“The club is delighted that in Avram we have an experienced man who can come in immediately at this difficult time to help deliver our objectives. In Steve we have a Chelsea man and he will be a crucial part of the management team going forward,” it said.